Mid Yorkshire Advanced Motorists Newsletter January 2019 Group Number 4178 Registered Charity Number 1053843
WHAT S INCLUDED IN THIS MONTH S ISSUE Page 3 Page 4 Page 5-6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Forthcoming Gatherings From the Editor Castleford Skill Check New Venue Group Membership News 5. Welcome, Congratulations, Subscriptions 6. MYAM Online Directions to The Carlton Social Club December Meeting Quiz IAM RoadSmart Inform Pathfinders U17 Club Page 10 Pathfinders U17 Club Driffield (Part 2) Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Pathfinder Driving Initiative Saving Young Lives in West Mercia December Presentations November 2018 Highway Code Changes IAM News Releases and Tips Give Jack Frost The Cold Shoulder And Finally.. This Month s Teaser and the Answer to Last Month s Teaser Your Committee Contact Details Cover Photo Off with her head - The Queen of Hearts, Llandudno Llandudno has had a long association with Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland, and Alice Liddell, the original Alice. This statue is one of the many sculptures from the story on the White Rabbit trail around the town ending up at Penmorfa, the Liddell s holiday home near the Great Orme. 2
FORTHCOMING GATHERINGS Date Meetings Location Monday 7th January 8pm Observers Meeting With Richard Gladman Head of Driving Standards IAM Road Smart Carlton Social Club Main Street Carlton WF3 3RW See page 7 Sunday 20th January 10 am Sunday 3rd February 10am 6pm Monday 4th February Sunday Driving Sessions Assessment runs for all Associates & Members Sunday Driving Sessions Assessment runs for all Associates & Members MYAM Social Evening William Merritt Centre McDonalds car park On the roundabout with Oakwood Lane and Easterly Road LS8 2RB Sigma Ltd Alpine Court, Castleford, WF10 4TL Aire House 100, Town Street Rodley Leeds, LS13 1HP Everyone is welcome at these events and they are an ideal opportunity to meet new people socially, find out about what is going on within the Group and listen to an interesting talk on a variety of topics, sharing our skills with other serious drivers and keeping up-to-date on club and driving matters. Will any Member wishing to have an item, article or picture included in the newsletter please submit it to the editor no later than the 15th of the month, these may be edited to save space. Thank you. Social Meeting Dates for 2019 March 4th April 8th May 13th June 3rd July 8th August 5th September 2nd October 7th November 4th December 2nd Please note that there is no social meeting in January and the February meeting will be a visit to the William Merritt Centre. Further details of this meeting will be in next month s newsletter. 3
FROM THE EDITOR Well sending out the December newsletter didn t go exactly as planned and some of you may have received an email with no attachment or an email saying I m still having problems. I did eventually find a way to send it out which I will probably use for future issues. The latest newsletter will always be on the MYAM website. Look under the Resources option where you will find the Newsletter option as shown below. There you ll find the latest newsletter plus previous issues. I ll aim to get the newsletter onto the website around ten days before the next social meeting. It only remains for me to wish you a happy New Year and the committee look forward to meeting you at one of our meetings in the coming year. Keith Castleford Skill Check New Venue For a few years now we have been searching for a more suitable venue for the Castleford Skill Check session. The car park at B&Q has served us well over the years but the increase in traffic, particularly at the roundabout between B&Q and Xscape has caused difficulties, especially getting away at the end of the session. We now have a new venue about ½ mile away from B&Q, to the rear of Xscape. Sigma Ltd have very kindly agreed for us to use their car park, the location of which is much quieter whilst still giving us access to all the regular driving routes. They are not open over the weekend so it gives us dedicated use. We trialled the location in December and all went well so we are looking forward to making this our regular home for the session. The new address - Sigma Ltd, Blue Ridge Park, Unit 9B, Alpine Ct, Castleford WF10 4TL. 4
GROUP MEMBERSHIP NEWS New Associates Michael Motanov, Joel Richardson, Derek Slater On passing the Advanced Test Emma Gibson Observer David Rockliff Simon Holt Observer Ken Sykes David Speight passed his retest Observer Chris Marrison David Rushfirth passed his Masters with Distinction mentored by David Stringer Last month I misspelt Hilary Krause s name and omitted to say she passed with a F1RST. Hilary was also Clive Nunnington s first associate. So belated congratulations (and apologies) to Hilary and Clive. These passes bring the total for 2018 to 34 with 6 of them being F1RSTs. A great result for the group.. Subscriptions We would like to remind you that the MYAM subscription will change from 1st January 2019 to 10 with the option of paying by Direct Debit. As your subscription renewal date approaches you will be sent details of how to set up your Direct Debt. If you opt to pay by direct debit don t forget to cancel any existing standing order. 5
See us at www.iamroadsmart.com/groups/midyorkshire WEB SITE Our website is packed full of information and is the go to place for everything you need to know about our events, courses, meetings and news about us as a Group. How about copies of the newsletter going back a few years. Need to know who the Committee are or see our Observer team? We are all on there. We are adding to the content all the time so keep dropping in to see what we are doing. FACEBOOK provides details of events and local news. Go and visit www.facebook.com/midyorkshireiam and like our page. How about inviting a few of your Facebook friends to like our page too. It helps getting our name out there. The Group Telephone number is 0113 314 9969 Data Protection Privacy Notice (GDPR) Mid Yorkshire Advanced Motorists (MYAM) is committed to looking after the information that it holds on behalf of its members in a way that complies with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). MYAM has a legitimate interest in keeping sufficient personal information to communicate with its members and other local people with an interest in road safety, and to permit the renewal of subscriptions. A member can ask to see a copy of their personal information, correct any errors and ask for all or part of it to be deleted. MYAM is affiliated to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and will use a member s information to support them if and when they are assessed by IAM. MYAM will also ensure that any data shared with IAM is accurate. We will not share your details with anybody else. 6
Directions to the Carlton Social Club Main Street, Carlton, Wakefield WF3 3RW From the M62 West leave at Junction 28 and take the A650 towards Wakefield. At the next set of traffic lights turn left onto the A654 toward Rothwell. Follow the A654, turning left in Thorpe on the Hill. Cross the A61 and continue into Carlton. Turn right into Stainton Lane then turn right into Main Street. The Social Club is on the right immediately after the Unicorn pub. From the M62 East leave at junction 30 and take the A642 towards Wakefield. Take the next right, B6135, towards Lofthouse. Follow the B6135 under the M62 onto Ouzlewell Green towards Carlton and Rothwell. Follow the road past Carlton Primary School and the Social Club is on the left just before the Unicorn pub. There is a car park with overspill parking available on the grass area opposite the club. 7
A question of well everything! December social evening this year was a quiz lead by our erstwhile Newsletter Editor Keith Wevill. The quiz consisted of 6 rounds covering a huge range of topics and some really quite puzzling questions! For example: Entertainment & Sport o Who were the original presenters of Top Gear? - Angela Rippon and Tom Coyne. (That was to see if you d read the earlier newsletters! - Ed) o What was controversially introduced into the game of football in 1891 and is still used today? - Goal Nets. Motoring and Travel o What is the longest road tunnel in the UK? - The Queensway tunnel under the river Mersey. o When must a car have been made for it be classed as Vintage? - 1919 to 1930. General Knowledge o What was the only subject that had to be compulsory taught in schools following the 1944 Education Act? - Religious Education. o What is the 3 rd most common gas in the atmosphere? Argon (not Carbon Dioxide as most people thought). Christmas (though this was originally going to be Quantum Physics!) o What is Rangifer tarandus more commonly known as? Reindeer. o What did Tom Smith invent in 1847? - Christmas Crackers. Radio and TV theme tunes You really had to be of a certain age (!) to answer many of these ones. Alter Egos (or the birth names of famous people) o What was the birth name of Englebert Humperdinck? Arnold George Dorsey. o What was the birth name of Marilyn Monroe? Norma Jean Mortenson (not Baker as many thought). During the break we had a supper produced by the Carlton Social club, including desert. After the quiz there was the result of the raffle with almost all teams winning at least one (if not more) prizes, which included buckets, car washing equipment and screenwash. This year many of the prizes were very kindly donated by the Wakefield branch Halfords, to which the Committee are very grateful. Overall turnout was good with a number of members bringing their partners and family members which is always great to see. Overall, it was a great way to end the year! Paul Macro 8
IAM RoadSmart Inform Every week IAM RoadSmart produces a news sheet which is distributed to the groups. This is the source of the News releases and tips I include in the newsletter. Also included are news items from the groups, normally celebrating significant events. The 28 th November issue features the Mid Yorkshire group celebrating our recent multiple F1RSTs and Ken Sykes gaining his distinction in his Masters re-assessment. Our record of 6 F1RSTs out of 34 passes, just under 18%, this year is something to celebrate and we still have a few weeks left to increase our tally of passes and hopefully F1RSTs. Credit must go to our team of dedicated observers for these impressive results. If you wish to join the observer team just contact David Rushfirth who will be only too happy to let you know what is involved. Pathfinders U17 Car Club Last month Paul Macro reported on the Pathfinders Under 17 Car Club. This month it s Lesley Pollards turn. Lesley has been involved with this event for a number of years, enthusiastically promoting it at every opportunity. 9
Pathfinders U17 Car Club Driffield (Part 2) The Pathfinder driving course for 15-17 year olds was held at Driffield this last half term. We had a great week coaxing, developing and watching 19 teenagers blossom and flourish over the five days of the course. Most had never sat in the driving seat before and were quite nervous. Once they realised they had the space and a safe environment they all got the hang of mastering the clutch, brakes and steering by manoeuvring around a large oval coned area. As the students progressed throughout the week the course layout of cones changed every day by Friday we had a short motorway section to practise overtaking, junctions, roundabouts, slaloms, twisty road, reverse and parallel parking. Different speed limits for sections were set plus a 1 mile straight stretch at max 60mph. Lunchtime classroom sessions covered speed awareness, consequences of accidents, attitudinal and behavioural talks and how to be assertive once they had their mates in the car and they were either the driver or passenger and coping with egging on, messing about, showing off etc. Safety and responsibility messages ran throughout the week. Each student had to take and pass 5 online driving knowledge tests based on the Highway Code, about 200 questions and all mastered POWDERY and cockpit checks. They all passed the course achieving Level 2 - mastering essential skills. Seven achieved Level 1 this equates that they demonstrated good progress towards the observational skills required for advanced driving. What a fantastic start to their future driving! MYAM had very kindly offered to sponsor bursaries and Janice and Paul came over to see for themselves what we were up to, I think I can safely say they were duly impressed and were more than happy to be driven around by the students. Driffield & Wolds Weekly advertised the course and printed a piece in their paper. Friday saw TC Rachel Love arrive in her BMW X5 police car and gave anyone who wanted a ride at pursuit pace round the course, fantastic car and handler. The students out driving their own cars at the time coped admirably with blues and twos on the course as well as the 200 sheep that decided to break out of their field! BBC Look North came and did a piece on camera which aired lunch and evening time and Viking FM visited and did interviews, see https://planetradio.co.uk/viking/local/news/driving-sessions-for-young-teens-in-driffield/ Safer Roads Humber representatives came and were duly impressed and have offered some help. 10
To keep the course going we do need more funding and more students to sign up and of course more awareness of it, if any of you could help in anyway, funding, promoting, sign your grandchild up etc. then do please contact Course Leader Ian Goring - 01904 700489 - ian.goring@btinternet.com The next courses will run at Easter and October half term 2019. Lesley Pollard Pathfinder Driving Initiative Saving Young Lives in West Mercia Leading young driver road safety charity, The Under 17 Car Club Charitable Trust, has shown that participation in its Pathfinder young driver education programme reduces the 1st year of driving accident risk to 1 in 17 compared with 1 in 5 nationally (DfT). The Trust 2018 survey of Pathfinder participants generated findings consistent with prior surveys in 2014 (Pathfinder), 2012 and 2006 (The Under 17 Car Club). The data, validated by Loughborough University, results covering nearly 20 years of participants for both Car Club and Pathfinder, show that graduates of the Pathfinder initiative are significantly less likely to be involved in accidents or to be injured than the general population of young drivers. Graduates of the programme are more than 3.5 times safer than their peers, with an accident rate of only 6% across multiple years of driving. In addition, only 2% of students report being convicted of a traffic offence compared to an annual conviction rate of 13.6% and a national average of 24% of drivers with impaired licences. These findings support the Trust s view that appropriately structured and delivered pre-licence driver development, which focuses on developing appropriate attitudes in conjunction with technical skill, delivers significant safety benefits to this vulnerable group. Ultimately, the Trust aims to ensure that Pathfinder graduates are Safe at 17. The Pathfinder initiative is for rising 17s (15-17). It takes the Under 17 Car Club philosophy and methodology and compresses these into an intensive, exciting and high impact four or five-day programme blending learning with fun to deliver key messages about road safety, risk awareness and safe attitudes. Chair of Trustees, Paul Silverwood, said This latest survey is entirely consistent with previous surveys of our graduates. It proves that the disproportionately high numbers of young driver deaths, injuries and collisions are avoidable by applying the appropriate non-traditional training and education. If the Pathfinder programme was adopted nationally, the country would save Billions in addition to the avoidance of family grief. Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said In 2017 I confirmed funding for The Under 17 Car Club that would ensure the programme would be delivered to thousands of young people in West Mercia. I am delighted that the programme continues to be delivered to the 11
young people of West Mercia. Pathfinder is also supported by Hereford and Worcester Fire Service and Shropshire Fire Service. In 2019 Pathfinder will be running events in West Mercia at venues in Malvern, Worcestershire (February, July and October) and Seighford, Staffordshire (April and October) coinciding with local school holidays. Full information is available at www.under17driver.co.uk. December Presentations Janice presented certificates to Brian Davidson and Hilary Krause. Hilary passed with a F1RST, one of six in 2018. This year, after much discussion, the committee decided to award the MYAM trophy for a significant contribution to the group to Charles Holland-Keen. Congratulations to Brian, Hilary and Charles. 12
November 2018 Highway Code Changes Recent updates to the Highway Code include changes for automated vehicle technology following a 2016 consultation by the Department for Transport. The following additions have been made. Rule 149 Rule 150 Rule 160 Rule 239 You may park your vehicle using a hand-held remote control app or device. The app or device MUST be legal, and you should not put other people in danger when you use it. As the driver, you are still responsible for the vehicle if you use a driver assistance system (like motorway assist). This is also the case if you use a hand-held remote control parking app or device. You MUST have full control over these systems at all times. Drive with both hands on the wheel where possible. This will help you to remain in full control of the vehicle at all times. You may use driver assistance systems while you are driving. Make sure you use any system according to the manufacturer s instructions. Before using a hand-held device to help you to park, you MUST make sure it is safe to do so. Then, you should move the vehicle into the parking space in the safest way, and by the shortest route possible. When you use a hand-held device to help you to park, you MUST remain in control of the vehicle at all times. Do not use the hand-held device for anything else while you are using it to help you park, and do not put anyone in danger. Use the hand-held device according to the manufacturer s instructions. The full set of updates can be seen at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highwaycode/updates These changes reinforce the need for the driver to be in control of a vehicle at all times but it can t be long before fully autonomous vehicles are allowed on our roads. Will you need a driving licence to use one of these and if an accident occurs who is responsible? I feel there are so many issues yet to be resolved before autonomous vehicles are the norm. Ed 13
IAM News Releases and Tips Give Jack Frost The Cold Shoulder With white frosty mornings also comes icy roads that s why Richard Gladman from IAM RoadSmart has put together some advice on how to deal with driving and riding on ice - and keep Jack Frost at bay. Only drive if it is really necessary. In very bad weather it is better to stay in or take public transport rather than risk an accident. Always check the weather and road conditions on your route before setting off; if police advise not to travel, then do not risk it. Make sure you know how the demister settings on your car work and how to adjust them properly. If you are riding, a clean scratch-free visor with a properly fitted insert will help you stay mist free. Never pour boiling water on the screen as the sudden temperature change may cause cracks. Prevention is better than a cure so if possible cover the glass overnight with cardboard or an old sheet to prevent freezing or invest in a windscreen cover. If you haven t done so already, get an anti-freeze check at your local garage or fast-fit centre. Keep your washer bottle topped up with an even stronger concentration of de-icer. It might sound like old news, but you may need up to 10 times the distance to stop in icy conditions - increase your following distance to account for this. If a car has to stop suddenly or worse still, a crash occurs, you will need that extra time to react and stop. Richard, head of driving and riding standards at the UK s largest independent road safety charity, said: As ever, preparation and planning are the key to worry-free driving when the mercury plummets. Plan your route carefully as major routes are likely to be treated with salt and less likely to be icy, although this might still form in dips and on bridges and in shaded areas. Leave more time for your journey, respect the conditions and don t rush. Factor in delays and give yourself plenty of time to clear the ice properly from all the windows of your car. 14
Thanks to Leslie Plumb for this picture This Month s Teaser Which famous comedian is responsible for this quotation? I sent the club a wire stating, PLEASE ACCEPT MY RESIGNATION. I DON'T WANT TO BELONG TO ANY CLUB THAT WILL ACCEPT ME AS A MEMBER. Last Month s Teaser Last month I asked Which company was responsible for the styling of the Austin and Morris 1100. The car was styled by the Italian company Pininfarina who had previously worked with BMC on the Austin A40 Farina. 15
Your Committee Due to computer hacking and high levels of spamming we have had to remove the hyperlinks to our e-mail addresses and have replaced the @ symbol with (at) so you will need to retype the address in the correct e-mail format, i.e. replace (at) with @, with no spaces. URGENT REQUEST We are in need of a Group Secretary and Speaker Secretary for the committee. Please contact any member of the committee if you are interested either of these positions. 16